Head gear



Jn. 6; 1925.y

R. F. NlXON. JR

HEAD GEAR Filed Sept.

Patented dan. 6, 1925.

UNITED ROBERT F. NIXON, J' R., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 A. REACH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HEAD GEAR.

Application led September 2, 1924. Serial No. 735,351.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT F. NIxoN, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Head Gears, of which they following is a specification.

My present Vinvention relates to a foot ball helmet, and with more particularity to instrumentalities whereby the same may be retained on the head of the player in a novel manner without the use of the ordinary chin strap, and yet which will allow the helmet to be readily and quickly removed.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of means as above, which will not be objectionable to the player, as is the ordinary chin strap, and yet which will securely retain the helmet on the head of the pla-yer in a manner to allow the helmet tobe readily removed when it'is desired, and quickly.

Other objects and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds, and with'reference to the embodiment illustrated.

To this end my invention includes the incorporation in a foot ball helmet of any desired type, of a spring element embedded in the material of the head gear, which passes over the top of the helmet and down into each ear flap, and so arranged as to exert pressure upon the face of the player beneath the ears.

I have shown in the drawings the most preferred forni of which I am now aware, although obviously I do not wish to be limited thereto, as this merely illustrates the principle involved.

In these drawings :w

Figure l is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail of the device of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one form of spring means.

Fig. 4 is a detail thereof.

Referring now to the form shown in the drawings, I have illustrated the ordinary helmet or head gear, composed of the cap portion l and the ear flaps 2, which comprises an outer covering of leather and an inner padding 3 covering substantially the entire inner surface of the head gear. Such a structure is that ordinarily used in such a helmet. In addition to these parts the neck protector 4 and the forehead band 5 are shown, with an extra pad 6 on the inside of the forehead strip 5.

One particular form of device for carrying out the objects of my invention is shown to consist of a piece of spring wire having its ends secured together so as to form a substantially endless loop flattened and bent upon itself, forming return bends 7. In the manufacture of the helmet I find it expedient to place the spring device, such as that just described, in the body of the helmet between the leather covering and the inner pad 8, the return bends 7 occupying a position within the ear iaps 2 and likewise between the padding 3 and the outer leather covering thereof. The spring element is preferably so arranged that the return bends 7 press inwardly toward the neck of the player, and it is desirable that they extend down into the ear flaps to an extent so that their point of bearing against the player is below the ears. In this way the bottom of the ear flaps bear against the lower part of the jaw, or even beneath the jaw, which offers considerable resistance to the accidental displacement of the helmet over the head. Vfhen, however, it is desirable to remove the helmet it is a simple matter for the player to exert pressure outward against the ear flaps and remove the head gear.

Obviouslyv the device may take 'several forms, the only essential being that it shall exert pressure upon the players head beneath the ears, and such would be the case with instrumentalities other than the spring wire shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. A head gear including an outer covering of leather and an inner pad, earfiaps thereon, and a spring device within the head gear and extending between the leather outer covering and the inner pad causing pressure of the ear flaps against the head of the wearer.

2. A head gear having ear flaps comprising an outer covering of leather and an inner pad, and a spring device passing over the crown of the head gear, the ends* of said springdeviee extending through the?,

ear flapsand, pressing' said earL flaps in toward the vertical axis of the head gear.

3. A heard gear having ear flaps comprising an outer covering of leather Vand an inner pad therefor, an endless loop of spring materal flattened and bent upon itself, the

Inain body thereof passing over the crown of the head gear and between -the vpad and the leather covering, the ends of said spring device extending likewise into the ear flaps.

fl. fr head igear including an outer covering, an inner, lining therefor, ear flaps on said head gear, a continuous spring device between the. outer ,covering Yand the inner lining passing over thetop of the head and extending do-Wn into each ear Hap.

Invvtestiinony whereof, I affix my signature.

F. NIKON, JR. 

